Harare, (New Ziana) –The Southern African Development
Community and the East African Community (EAC ) are set to hold a joint
summit to find a lasting solution to the conflict in the Eastern
Democratic Republic of Congo.
An armed conflict is raging in Eastern DRC pitting that country’s armed
forces and the M23 rebel movement resulting in the death of 16
peacekeepers under the SADC Mission on the DRC (SAMIDRC) and those from
the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation in the DRC (MONUSCO).
In a communique at the end of a one-day SADC extraordinary summit on the
DRC conflict in Harare on Friday, SADC said the regional leaders had
agreed that an immediate joint Summit of SADC and EAC be held to
deliberate on the security situation in the DRC.
On its part, the EAC also requested for a joint summit on the DRC
security situation with SADC during its own extraordinary summit held on
Wednesday.
“Summit mandated the SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security
Cooperation, to engage all state and non-state parties to the conflict
on a ceasefire process to protect lives and facilitate a smooth flow of
humanitarian support to people and communities affected by the armed
conflict,” read the communique.
“Summit urged Political and Diplomatic leaders who are parties to the
conflict to engage in a coordinated effort of dialogue, including
supporting the Luanda Process, MONUSCO and others, to restore peace and
security in Eastern DRC.”
SADC said the leaders reaffirmed their solidarity and unwavering
commitment to continue supporting the DRC in its pursuit of safeguarding
its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as
sustainable peace, security and development.
The regional body expressed concern that the recent attacks by the M23
rebel movement continued to worsen the security and humanitarian
situation in the DRC and called for immediate restoration of essential
utilities such as water, electricity, means of communication and supply
lines for food and other essential commodities.
It condemned the M23 attacks on the SAMIDRC troops made up of soldiers
from South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania in violation of a ceasefire that
was brokered through the Luanda Process on 30 July 2024 thereby
undermining peace and security of the DRC and the SADC region.
The summit reiterated its support to the diplomatic efforts to secure a
peaceful resolution to the conflict in the Eastern DRC through the
Luanda Process, led by President of Angola, João Manuel Gonçalves
Lourenço who is the African Union Champion for Peace and Reconciliation
in Africa and the Nairobi Process, led by former Kenyan President, Uhuru
Kenyatta.
The leaders commended Madagascar for pledging medical support to the
injured and displaced people in the theatre of operation in the Eastern
DRC and also took the opportunity to congratulate recently installed
President Daniel Chapo of Mozambique, welcoming his participation in the
extra ordinary summit.
New Ziana